The prospect of an exclusive broadcasting agreement between beIN Sports and Canal+ “seems increasingly problematic,” according to Thierry Wojciak of CB NEWS. In a confidential notice sent to the Competition Authority from the French Audiovisual Superior Council (CSA), it “points to a number of major problems.” In the document, the Council “fears three consequences.” On the one hand, the deal “could risk inciting collusion,” for future sports rights. Furthermore, CSA believes that beIN Sports, for which the agreement could mean “close to” €400M ($455M) per year, would have “less incentive to resell rights to free-TV channels,” which it did for Euro 2016. Finally, the regulator is “concerned for broadcasters that are unable to offer beIN” could see their subscription numbers “weakened.” Since ’12, the Competition Authority has “prohibited Canal+ from holding exclusive distribution rights for premium channels for a period of five years.” Canal+ has asked for this sanction to be lifted early, which CSA deems “insufficiently substantiated.” Canal+ execs consider the deal “crucial for the future of Canal+ in France,” which will lose €408M ($464M) this year and €475M ($540M) in ’17, “due to the cost of sports rights” which cost the company €822M ($934M) per year. A decision from the Competition Authority “is due this week” (CB NEWS, 6/3).
AFRICAN EPL RIGHTS: In a separate piece, Wojciak reported the French TV rights for the Premier League "escaped Canal+, but not in Africa." The Vivendi subsidiary announced that it "renewed its broadcast deal, for three seasons, of the entire EPL season on Canal+ Sport in Africa, starting in August." On the continent of Africa, Canal+ offers 100% of the French Ligue 1, La Liga, the Premier League, the Champions League, the Europa League, the Copa America Centenario and Euro 2016 which starts Friday in France (CB NEWS, 6/3).
